The deal makes Minnesota much deeper down the middle. Hanzal has won 56 percent of his faceoffs this season, and has taken 1,064 entering Sunday (which ranks 21st in draws taken in the NHL). He joins Mikko Koivu, who has won 55.2 percent of 1,275 faceoffs (which ranks seventh in faceoffs taken this season). Eric Staal has won 50 percent of 923 draws entering Sunday.

For those wondering, Blackhawks were never a serious player on Hanzal.

22 thoughts on “Minnesota Wild Acquire Martin Hanzal”

Since 2012 Minnesota has sucked at drafting bottom 3 in terms of games played.. Only player they’ve drafted that has made an impact has been Dumba. So between being bad at drafting and it being a terrible draft why not? I’d worry about finding guys ice. Finding that chemistry. Offensively Hanzal hasn’t been that great. Could be a Vermette type move. Despite winning the cup Vermette struggled here and it wasn’t until the latter half of the conference final that it started to work.

Seems like they are giving up draft picks and not any of their prospects. Is he a rental or do you folks think the Wild will try and sign him long term? Obviously an all-in move for the playoffs, but is it also something beyond that?
I can believe that the Blackhawks were not serious about going after him. Good player but doesn’t seem to fit into SB’s overall plan.

Arizona is in a building phase, so stockpiling picks will help them get cost-controlled prospects. He would figure to be a rental because MIN has some significant free agent money to spend this summer (Niederreiter, Grandlund, Folin & Haula are RFA)

I get that. But what move would you make? Add some substance to your statement. It’s ok to be armchair gm. Makes things interesting. I’m not sold on the Lightning being sellers. I know they traded Bishop but now was their time to get something for him.

John, your comment doesn’t even make sense. Minnesota got an avaerage (albeit a good face off man, but that is his only major skill) center, what are you talking about them getting Evander Kane? I for one hope bowman doesn’t sell the farm and picks in an attempt to “keep up.” Smart franchises don’t make knee jerk reactions based on other teams in their division making moves. The Hawks are humming, if a good deal comes along that doesn’t not cost a lot (a 1st, 2nd, and anywhere between a 2nd and 4th is a ton to give up) for a rental.

Since they haven’t added Kane I have no response. Personally, I wouldn’t add just because Minnesota added. If I knew Hjalmarsson’s injury like the front office does I’d be tempted to upgrade there. Wiercioch or Tyutin. I’d also be interestedin John Mitchell…depending on Kruger’s health.

John – in years past teams have made bigger moves (Ryan Miller to StL, for example) that did not result in winning the Cup. An effective faceoff C would be a great addition (since Kruger is no longer 50%-plus), but not at that cost – I’m really glad Stan B didn’t OVERpay.

Good point, Dickie. If ANYTHING the Blackhawks will consider a center given Kruger isn’t even taking faceoffs post-injury. They love Kero, however.

re: all the talk about needing another defenseman – the Hawks just won 9 of 10 in February and we’re losing our minds… smh. Was TvR good on Sunday? No. Was Niklas Hjalmarsson in the lineup Sunday? No. If the Hawks can settle down and roll Keith-Seabrook, Hjalmarsson-Campbell + Kempny-TvR-Rozsival I think they’ll be OK.

I’m not an NHL general manager but I let the kids on this Hawk team get valuable ice time / learning time for the rest of the regular season. If we can add an Oduya for D depth, that is great. I think that this is going to be an exciting playoff run.